Carol Louis (“C.L.”) Lawrence was born March 8, 1941, in Summerville, S.C. to Nellie

Esther Lawrence and St. Julian Brown. Until the age of 5, he was raised by his

grandma Phibbieyann Lawyer. When he started school, he moved to the Union Heights

neighborhood in North Charleston, where he lived with his mother and stepfather,

Joseph “Bubba” Pinckney.

He attended Bonds Wilson High School where he enjoyed playing the baritone horn and

the tuba in the school band. He developed many friendships during this time, that

continued until his death. While in High School, he met Lonnie Hamilton III, who was

his band teacher and his Principal Theodore Collier. Both men served as surrogate

fathers his entire life. During his high school years, he also sang in the group, The

Southern Hummingbirds and at 15 years old, he started his first job as a school bus

driver.

Upon graduation in 1959, Carol began his college career at Allen University in

Columbia, SC, as a music major. Due to lack of funds, he dropped out of school and

moved to New Jersey where he worked to save money. He ended up joining the US Air

Force on July 13, 1960, where he worked as a cook. Frustrated with being a cook and

not a photographer as he wanted, he decided not to re-enlist after his first contract was

completed. It was in the Air Force that he met another life-long surrogate father,

Williame Greene Jr, who encouraged him to transfer to the US Navy where he felt Carol

would have better opportunities. This advice and further guidance from Mr. Greene,

changed the trajectory of his life. He left the Air Force and after a two-week break,

traveled to San Diego, CA where he completed boot camp for the second time. In the

Navy he was an Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician. He rose from Airman to

Chief Warrant Officer 3. The Navy took him across the United States and throughout

the world. He was stationed twice in California as well as Tennessee, several bases in

Virginia, Pennsylvania and retired in Virginia. He was also a proud Vietnam veteran.

In 1980, it was discovered that C.L. had developed cancer of the larynx. He underwent

a major surgery, which removed his voice box. This diagnosis resulted in him retiring

from the US Navy with a combined twenty-one years of service in August 1981.

Throughout his military career, he attended many military schools and completed his

associate’s degree at Southwestern College. Upon retirement he enrolled in Virginia

Wesleyan College (now University) in Virginia Beach and graduated in 1983 with a

bachelor’s degree in business. He then became employed as a civil service employee

with the federal government as a Computer Specialist. He continued his education and

in 1988 earned a master’s degree in business management from The George

Washington University in Washington D.C.

Upon retiring for the second time in 1995, he took on the full responsibility for caring for

his mother who had suffered a stroke. Once she was stable, he began his next career

which was teaching higher education. He taught at Cooper Career Institute and Bryant

and Stratton in Virginia Beach before accepting a position at Camp Community College

as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor during his tenure at

Camp. It was during his time that he mentored and developed special relationships with

many students. Unfortunately, a second cancer diagnosis (esophagus) caused him to

retire once again. He was, however, able to continue working until July 2024 by

teaching online courses. C.L. truly valued the importance of education. Teaching

brought him great joy. He always encouraged his students to not stop at the Associate’s

level but to push themselves further and attain higher degrees and/or certificates. He

considered studying a hobby and would often study for fun.

While, working and providing for his family was of the utmost importance, C.L.’s first

commitment was to God. He was raised at Ashley Missionary Baptist Church in

Summerville, SC., but later joined New Hope Baptist in Charleston where Rev. Fields

baptized him. While stationed at various military bases, he joined churches throughout

the country including- Shady Grove MBC (Memphis), Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

(Alameda, CA), Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (Virginia Beach), First Baptist Church-

Bute Street (Norfolk), East Coast Baptist Church (Virginia Beach), Shiloh Baptist Church

(Norfolk) and most recently, New Hope Baptist Church (Virginia Beach). He was a

Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher as well as a bus driver at multiple

churches. In 1981, he became an ordained deacon at Pleasant Grove (Virginia Beach)

and continued in this role at First Baptist Church-Bute Street. He took this role very

seriously. C.L. made sure that all the children on his assigned membership list had

Christmas presents. He visited the elderly and sick and shut in monthly. He made sure

his wife and children served with him and in later years his grandchildren.

C.L. enjoyed several hobbies. He loved cooking, especially barbequing. He was known

for his ribs but also for grilling and frying holiday meats including turkey, ham, pork

tenderloin and pig feet. He made pancake breakfast with his three girls every Saturday

morning for many years and continued this tradition with his grandchildren. Never one

to meet a stranger, C.L. often invited single sailors that he met to church, summer

gatherings, as well as Sunday and holiday dinners. As a young boy his mother and his

Grandma Whaley introduced him to fishing, which became a great love of his. He

introduced his children and grandchildren to fishing and took them on day-long boat

trips and later as his health challenges arose, they would fish from the shore. C.L.

loved to garden. His mother, also a wonderful gardener, helped foster his love of

gardening. He had a winter and summer garden for years. Even when he could no

longer eat by mouth, he continued to grow vegetables for his family and friends to enjoy.

Another passion was photography. Many couples’ wedding albums were created by

C.L. and he also enjoyed photographing nature.

Carol was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. He always rooted for them even when their

record was 1-15. He often said that it was dangerous to be a Cowboys fan while living

in Northern Virginia, but he continued to cheer for his favorite team. He was so excited

to witness them play in person against their biggest rival, although not at a home game.

In July 2023, he was finally able to travel to Texas and tour the AT&T Stadium where the

Cowboys play. This was truly a memorable experience for him and his wife, Audrey,

who is also an avid fan.

Music was C.L.’s greatest passion. He loved all music, but his favorite was gospel. His

favorite gospel group was the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and his favorite singer of all time

was Sam Cooke. He loved to tell the story of how he met Sam Cooke two times as a

high schooler and Sam Cooke remembered him the second time. Prior to losing his

larynx (voice box) many said that C.L. sounded just like Sam Cooke when he sang. He

loved educating anyone who would listen about the history of gospel, parts of music,

tempo, etc.

After meeting Mr. Theodore Collier, who was the first Alpha man that he knew, he

decided in high school that he too wanted to be an Alpha man. He began the process in

1960 at Allen University but was unable to finish. In the Fall of 1984, he fulfilled this

dream of becoming a distinguished man of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the

oldest black fraternity. He supported his chapter, Alpha Phi Lambda (Norfolk) in various

ways. Even if he was too tired or ill to drive, he’d have one of his brothers pick him up

so that he could still participate in meetings and events. In 2019 he was honored as

Patriarch of the Year by his chapter.

Carol became a member of the Prince Hall Mason at an early age in Charleston, SC.

Upon his move to Virginia, he realigned his membership and became a faithful member

of Ruth Lodge #92 of Virginia Beach. He supported his lodge whenever he could and

considered it an honor to be a Mason like his dad, St. Julian.

In 1968 while stationed at NSA Millington outside of Memphis TN, thanks to a blind

date, Carol was introduced to Audrey Gillespie. On their first date they went to the

circus. They were engaged in 1969 and married in 1970. From this union three

daughters were born. Audrey was a steadfast and loyal wife for 54 years and was the

true definition of a helpmate. She cared for C.L. through his five different cancer

diagnoses and many other health ailments.

On Monday, December 2, 2024, God decided that it was time for C.L. to transition from

labor to reward. He had a wonderful reunion with his parents, grandmother, stepfather,

sisters, Mary Ann Murphy, Annie Louise Meyers, and Mary Ann Brown and his brother

Samuel Brown. He was most looking forward to reuniting with his daughter Caroline

Lawrence Smith. Left to mourn, his death are his wife, Audrey; children- Carl Glisson of

Atlanta, GA, Ronda (Glen) Bernstein of Richmond, VA, Carla Lawrence, Carynn (Frank) Porter, Camille (Morris) Bryant of Pikesville, MD; grandchildren, Andrew Gordon,

Audrey Thames, Arika Thames, Tapio Taina Jr., Marynn Porter, Christofer Porter,

Camrynn Porter, Josiah Bryant and Audra Bryant; a great-granddaughter, Kennedy

Porter; a special brother, David (Jacqueline) Floyd of Nashville, TN, a special sister,

Rosa Edwards; a loving son-in-law, Willie “Buc” Thames; adopted sister, Bridgette

(Antonio) Wright of Charleston, SC; adopted daughter, Jameka Hartley; his second

family of siblings, Sharon Greene-Golden, William Greene III, Karen Greene-Fencher;

brother-in-law, William Meyers of Charleston SC; godbrother Delbert Washington of

Charleston, SC; godchildren, David “Dasaw” Floyd Jr. of Austin, TX, Tonya Twigg of

Cary NC, Marcus Gates of Suitland, MD and Athena Gibbs; many nieces, nephews and

friends.

2 Timothy 4:7 reads: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept

the faith. Carol fought many “good fights” over his 83 years,8 months and 24 days of life

and his life is a testament to God’s faithfulness. He has finished his race, and he now

rests with his heavenly father.